Straight from The Horse's Mouth

Laura St. John I came into the world with a complete and total intolerance for boredom. If there are genes for wanderlust I have several sets. At two years of age I pedaled my trike down a busy four lane road. At three I climbed the TV antenna pole to gain access to the rooftop. At four I began my career as a fugitive, jumping fences and climbing trees to avoid capture. At five I stayed in trouble in kindergarten for doing headstands during the pledge. My poor mother will tell you the list goes on and gets (just a little) worse.

Weary as she was, Mother was very smart. She knew the value of reading, and knew she must instill the love of it in me. (Did she think if I read I would not wander?) Even after I was quite old enough to read for myself she read classic stories of childhood to me. I loved "Billy Goat Gruff", "Hansel and Gretel", and "The Ugly Duckling". There was "The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids", "Puss and Boots" and "The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg". Jack, of the bean stalk, was my hero and I thought Little Red Riding Hood had it right by going off the trail. When Mother was too tired (why ever would she be tired?) for long winded stories I would get a short Aesop's Fable. Clever lady.

I was never interested in "Little Women". I wanted to go to "Treasure Island" and heed "The Call of the Wild". Ah, "Swiss Family Robinson"! Need I say more? The very first chapter book I read by myself was "My Side of the Mountain". This one changed my life. At one point I thought I could go off and live in the woods like the boy in the book, but that is another story.

Mother read to me for years. She made certain, though I tested low in reading comprehension in grade three, I would love literature. Mom fueled my imagination and eventually I grew interested in words. Stories of enterprise watered the foundation from which my life sprang. Eventually I read for myself to salve my craving for wild exploits when adventuring was impossible. By the time teachers had me diagramming sentences I cared only for what the words were saying, not in which order they were on the page. I would not be pinned down with rules and methods. I only wanted the excitement. Books described worlds I had not yet discovered on my own.

Later in life I was blessed by the birth of my two boys, who've given me much joy, without terrifying me like I did my mother. I took her lead and read to them from piles many feet high by their bedsides. My children afforded me more time to read to them as I was not always trying to corral them, or calling the police to look for them as she did for me (only twice). I was able to read until my voice cracked, every night, instead of spending the same time praying they would grow to adulthood in one piece. Please forgive me, my poor pitiable mother, but you did good.

Parents and grandparents who share reading know what Mark Twain said: "A man who does not read great books has no advantage over the one who can't." Reading grows brains, it alters the path of lives, it educates, it soothes. Reading can even heal hearts and minds. It creates common ground. Get a group of diverse people reading the same book and you will find as many perspectives and a whole lot to discuss and learn.

I cannot imagine my life without books. I guarantee you there aren't enough adventures I could get myself into now that can compare to the adventures books hold. Still, out of habit, my mother probably would rather I read more than I do. After all, who knows what mischief I'll get into next.

On Thursday this week we are holding our All Writers Group. Many of you have expressed an interest and this is your chance. Hope to see you there.

Aside from books, THM is also a place for community. We celebrated Kayla Ray's birthday last week. She broke THM's all time attendance record. We have a couple of game nights with Scrabble gaining on Trivial Pursuit. This Friday evening we are hosting our first ever open mic night. Several local musicians are lined up, but we've heard there are more of you hanging in the shadows. Show up! We'll put the mic in your hand. We are still waiting for the big espresso machine. The day that baby arrives will be a happy day as caffeine makes your brain go weeee!